USA U17 wins Concacaf Championship

The U.S. Women’s National Team program is enjoying a dream start to the year, and they’re still dreaming. After the USA U20 team won the Concacaf Championship in March, the U17 team followed it up with another regional title for the Federation on Sunday. The U.S. U17 Women’s National Team won the 2022 Concacaf U17 Championship with a 2-1 victory over Mexico in the final. [player_tooltip player_id="24190" first="Melina" last="Rebimbas"] scored the game-winner in the 77th minute off an assist from [player_tooltip player_id="25073" first="Taylor" last="Suarez"]. [player_tooltip player_id="33426" first="Lauren" last="Martinho"] scored the opening goal for USA in the 20th minute. Mexico equalized on a goal from [player_tooltip player_id="19885" first="Maribel" last="Flores"] in the 66th minute. Both USA and Mexico already qualified for the World Cup thanks to victories in the semifinal round on Friday. Canada joined as the third representative at the Youth World Cup in October in India on Sunday thanks to a 3-0 win over Puerto Rico in the Third Place game. Sunday’s finale lived up to the billing. Mexico and USA smashed the competition throughout the tournament. Both teams had perfect records from the event (6-0) and had yet to concede a goal leading up to the championship game. Mexico had the slight advantage in goals scored (57-56) from the tournament. The two heavyweights put on a show fitting the occasion. Mexico tried to go toe-to-toe with the giants of the region. The best Mexico U17 team arguably in history of the program, had moments when they had USA nervous. Mexico finished the game with only two shots on goal, but they were a threat throughout the contest even without peppering the USA goal. [player_tooltip player_id="33426" first="Lauren" last="Martinho"] scored the opener about midway through the first half. She picked off a clearance from Mexico, took a couple of touches, and then ripped a shot at [player_tooltip player_id="26594" first="Carmen" last="Lopez"]’s goal. Lopez, the goalkeeper for Mexico, was in the right spot, but Martinho’s shot had too much power for her and went past her for the opening tally of the game and the first goal Mexico had conceded throughout the tournament. USA squandered chances throughout the game. The most obvious came from the wing play as the USA found looks from getting to the endline, but the cutback pass/cross missed the mark every time. It should be a point of emphasis moving forward, as this age group has skillful wingers and attacking backs and could exploit that as a difference-maker in the final third. Mexico’s goalkeeper Lopez came up with key saves when called upon. She made a great diving save against [player_tooltip player_id="18947" first="Onyeka" last="Gamero"] early in the second half. Lopez was one of six players on the Mexico team who play club soccer in the United States. It was fellow Mexican-American [player_tooltip player_id="19885" first="Maribel" last="Flores"] who scored the equalizer for Mexico. Alice Soto served in a cross that settled between [player_tooltip player_id="25297" first="Victoria" last="Safradin"] and right back [player_tooltip player_id="33286" first="Gisele" last="Thompson"]. Neither USA player moved for the ball, and Flores took advantage of that indecision. The Southern California native poked the ball past Safradin for the first and only goal USA conceded at the event. With their backs against the wall and the clock ticking toward extra time, second half substitute [player_tooltip player_id="24190" first="Melina" last="Rebimbas"] delivered the decisive moment. [player_tooltip player_id="25073" first="Taylor" last="Suarez"] started the play with an interception and then a slipped pass to Rebimbas. The forward from New Jersey buried the shot with her left foot to the bottom corner of the net. After scoring twice on Friday in the semifinal and then adding the game-winner on Sunday, Rebimbas finished the event as co-leading scorer for USA with [player_tooltip player_id="26447" first="Amalia" last="Villarreal"] with both scoring eight goals. Safradin snagged a cross late in added time in one of her only moments of action as she finished the game with the victory and one save. The center back pairing of [player_tooltip player_id="19044" first="Alyssa" last="Gonzalez"] and [player_tooltip player_id="26584" first="Cameron" last="Roller"] were rock-solid against the talented Mexico attack. Safradin was named the Best Goalkeeper at the tournament during the postgame award ceremony. Concorde Fire midfielder [player_tooltip player_id="21915" first="Riley" last="Jackson"] was awarded the Best Player Award for the 2022 Concacaf U17 Championship. Jackson captained Team USA to the championship. The defensive midfielder was a key piece for USA on Sunday and throughout the tournament. USA U17 WNT XI: [player_tooltip player_id="25297" first="Victoria" last="Safradin"]; [player_tooltip player_id="33286" first="Gisele" last="Thompson"], [player_tooltip player_id="19044" first="Alyssa" last="Gonzalez"], [player_tooltip player_id="26584" first="Cameron" last="Roller"], Savannah King; [player_tooltip player_id="21915" first="Riley" last="Jackson"] (C), [player_tooltip player_id="33296" first="Charlotte" last="Kohler"], [player_tooltip player_id="33426" first="Lauren" last="Martinho"]; [player_tooltip player_id="18947" first="Onyeka" last="Gamero"], [player_tooltip player_id="26447" first="Amalia" last="Villarreal"], [player_tooltip player_id="25073" first="Taylor" last="Suarez"] Scoring: [player_tooltip player_id="33426" first="Lauren" last="Martinho"] (20’), [player_tooltip player_id="24190" first="Melina" last="Rebimbas"] (77’) [player_tooltip player_id="19885" first="Maribel" last="Flores"] (66’)